This was my favorite Grand Theft Auto experience
I remember getting this game a while back when I was younger, and I loved it. I absolutely adored everything about it. The story kept me interested and I wanted to do everything possible. There is so much replay value in this game with all the mini-missions and extras throughout the game (such as the vehicle garages or hidden packages) that I couldn't stop playing.
Sure the graphics aren't top notch, but there isn't much more I found wrong with the game.
Story - 9.5
Graphics - 8.0
Sound/Voice - 10.0
Control - 9.0
There is so much ease in using the compass/map and driving from island to island. The missions are simple at first, but provide you with quite some challenges (if you don't use cheats). Even when you're not doing the missions, you can find a lot of things to do to occupy your time. (Maybe sniping cops and blowing up helicopters from the top of a building?)
At this period in time (of release), the vast categories of people and phrases that they say is stunning. Although it may seem like you hear the same things over and over, it seems like Rockstar put a lot of time into the voices & phrases of the people in Liberty City and all of the stereotypes you see. (For example: the hillbilly folks say "my mother's my sister" and the taxi drivers are Indian, etc.)
I don't know exactly what it is about this game, but I find myself playing it all the time and it is by far my favorite PS2 game.
Watching the story unfold as you continue through the game is amazing. You'll see how different environments act differently as you change sides throughout the game. One day you're with the mafia, the next with the Yakuza, and so on. It seems like the world turns on you, but it just feels simply amazing.
I highly recommend anyone to play this game. It's way too much fun to pass up.